2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season

2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season
NCAA Tournament,
Conference	NCHC
Home ice	Lawson Arena
Rankings
USCHO	#14
USA Today	#13
Record
Overall	21–15–1
Conference	11–13–0
Home	11–7–0
Road	10–8–1
Coaches and captains
Head coach	Pat Ferschweiler
Assistant coaches	Jason Herter J. J. Crew Jared Brown Will Massey
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey seasons « 2022–23 2024–25 »

The 2023–24 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season is the 50th season of play for the program and 11th in the NCHC. The Broncos represent Western Michigan University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at the Lawson Arena and are coached by Pat Ferschweiler in his third season.

Departures

Player	Position	Nationality	Cause
Barrett Brooks	Forward	United States	Transferred to Mercyhurst
Aidan Fulp	Defenseman	United States	Signed professional contract (New York Islanders)
Cole Gallant	Forward	Canada	Graduation (signed with Trois-Rivières Lions)
William Hambley	Goaltender	Canada	Transferred to Alaska
Lucas Matta	Defenseman	Canada	Transferred to Rensselaer
Ryan McAllister	Forward	Canada	Signed professional contract (Florida Panthers)
Jack Perbix	Forward/Defenseman	United States	Graduate transfer to Northern Michigan
Jason Polin	Forward	United States	Graduation (signed with Colorado Avalanche)
Jamie Rome	Forward	Canada	Graduation (signed with Orlando Solar Bears)
Max Sasson	Forward	United States	Signed professional contract (Vancouver Canucks)
Theo Thrun	Forward	United States	Left program (retired)

Recruiting

Player	Position	Nationality	Age	Notes
Alex Bump	Forward	United States	19	Burnsville, MN; transfer from Vermont; selected 133rd overall in 2022
Joe Cassetti	Forward	United States	24	Pleasanton, CA; graduate transfer from Miami
Sam Colangelo	Forward	United States	21	Stoneham, MA; transfer from Northeastern; selected 36th overall in 2020
Matteo Costantini	Forward	Canada	21	St. Catharines, ON; transfer from North Dakota; selected 131st overall in 2020
Cole Crusberg-Roseen	Defenseman	United States	21	Stratham, NH
Owen Michaels	Forward	United States	21	Detroit, MI
Jacob Napier	Defenseman	United States	20	Lancaster, NY
Ethan Phillips	Forward	Canada	22	Dartmouth, NS; graduate transfer from Boston University; selected 97th overall in 2019
Dawson Smith	Goaltender	Canada	20	Whitehorse, YT
Ean Somoza	Forward	United States	20	Thousand Oaks, CA
Garrett Szydlowski	Forward	United States	21	Detroit, MI

Roster

As of September 1, 2023.

No.	S/P/C	Player	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	DoB	Hometown	Previous team	NHL rights
1		Kirk Laursen	Sophomore (RS)	G	6' 3" (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-01-02	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan	Miami (NCHC)	—
2		Jacob Bauer	Senior	D	6' 3" (1.91 m)	202 lb (92 kg)	2002-02-25	Milford, Michigan	Lincoln (USHL)	—
3		Cole Crusberg-Roseen	Freshman	D	5' 11" (1.8 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	2002-04-14	Stratham, New Hampshire	Lincoln (USHL)	—
4		Zak Galambos	Graduate	D	6' 2" (1.88 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	1997-05-27	Walnut Creek, California	American International (AHA)	—
6		Jacob Napier	Freshman	D	6' 2" (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	2003-03-31	Lancaster, New York	Fargo (USHL)	—
8		Joe Cassetti	Graduate	F	6' 4" (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1999-02-28	Pleasanton, California	Miami (NCHC)	—
9		Luke Grainger	Senior	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	1999-09-03	Montreal, Quebec	Hawkesbury (CCHL)	—
10		Chad Hillebrand	Senior	F	6' 4" (1.93 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	1999-01-22	Park Ridge, Illinois	Green Bay (USHL)	—
11		Ethan Wolthers	Sophomore	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)	155 lb (70 kg)	2001-07-19	Valencia, California	Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)	—
12		Sam Colangelo	Senior	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2001-12-26	Stoneham, Massachusetts	Northeastern (HEA)	ANA, 36th overall 2020
13		Oliver MacDonald	Senior	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-11-07	Grosse Pointe, Michigan	UMass (HEA)	—
15		Daniel Hilsendager	Senior	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	2000-03-30	Lloydminster, Saskatchewan	Omaha (USHL)	—
16		Tim Washe	Senior	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2001-08-25	Detroit, Michigan	Nanaimo (BCHL)	—
17		Cédric Fiedler	Senior	D	6' 3" (1.91 m)	204 lb (93 kg)	2001-04-20	Zug, Switzerland	Fargo (USHL)	—
18		Wyatt Schingoethe	Junior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	2002-08-03	Algonquin, Illinois	Waterloo (USHL)	TOR, 195th overall 2020
19		Cam Knuble	Senior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	2000-07-23	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Muskegon (USHL)	—
20		Alex Bump	Freshman	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	194 lb (88 kg)	2003-11-20	Burnsville, Minnesota	Tri-City (USHL)	PHI, 133rd overall 2022
22		Trevor Bishop	Senior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1999-01-23	Rochester Hills, Michigan	Victoria (BCHL)	—
23		Carter Berger	Graduate	D	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	1999-09-17	North Vancouver, British Columbia	UConn (HEA)	FLA, 106th overall 2019
24		Garrett Szydlowski	Freshman	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2002-06-12	Detroit, Michigan	Wenatchee (BCHL)	—
25		Matteo Costantini	Junior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	2002-08-16	St. Catharines, Ontario	North Dakota (NCHC)	BUF, 131st overall 2020
26		Ean Somoza	Freshman	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	2003-02-08	Thousand Oaks, California	Wenatchee (BCHL)	—
27		Cole Burtch	Sophomore	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	2001-01-11	Markham, Ontario	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	—
28		Hugh Larkin	Senior	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	1999-03-27	Livonia, Michigan	Austin (NAHL)	—
29		Ethan Phillips	Graduate	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	2001-05-07	Dartmouth, Nova Scotia	Boston University (HEA)	DET, 97th overall 2019
30		Dawson Smith	Freshman	G	6' 4" (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	2003-02-17	Whitehorse, Yukon	La Ronge (SJHL)	—
31		Cameron Rowe	Senior	G	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2001-06-01	Wilmette, Illinois	Wisconsin (Big Ten)	—
33		Samuel Sjölund	Sophomore	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2001-05-19	Stockholm, Sweden	Dubuque (USHL)	DAL, 111th overall 2019
34		Owen Michaels	Freshman	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2002-05-01	Detroit, Michigan	Dubuque (USHL)	—
37		Dylan Wendt	Junior	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2001-01-09	Grand Haven, Michigan	Muskegon (USHL)	—

Standings

2023–24 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Standings
	Conference record											Overall record
	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	SW	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#5 North Dakota †	24	15	8	1	1	4	0	49	87	67		40	26	12	2	151	105
#3 Denver *	24	15	7	2	3	0	1	45	110	80		42	30	9	3	198	119
#18 St. Cloud State	24	11	9	4	1	3	2	41	77	74		38	17	16	5	121	114
#15 Colorado College	24	14	8	2	5	2	0	41	66	56		37	21	13	3	111	93
#11 Omaha	24	13	8	3	5	0	3	40	68	74		40	23	13	4	117	112
#14 Western Michigan	24	11	13	0	1	5	0	35	78	64		38	21	16	1	136	97
Minnesota Duluth	24	8	14	2	3	3	2	28	65	80		37	12	20	5	103	125
Miami	24	1	21	2	0	2	0	7	44	100		36	7	26	3	78	135
Championship: March 23, 2024 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: April 1, 2024

Schedule and results

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Decision	Result	Attendance	Record
Exhibition
October 7	7:00 pm	at USNTDP*	#12	USA Hockey Arena • Plymouth, Michigan (Exhibition)			W 9–4
Regular Season
October 12	7:00 pm	Ferris State*	#12	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 6–4	3,640	1–0–0
October 13	7:07 pm	at Ferris State*	#12	Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan	FloHockey	Rowe	T 3–3 OT	1,675	1–0–1
October 20	7:07 pm	at Bowling Green*	#9	Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio	FloHockey	Rowe	W 5–2	4,862	2–0–1
October 21	6:00 pm	Bowling Green*	#9	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 5–2	2,760	3–0–1
November 3	8:07 pm	at Omaha	#11	Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska		Rowe	W 5–2	5,393	4–0–1 (1–0–0)
November 4	8:07 pm	at Omaha	#11	Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska		Rowe	L 2–3 OT	6,225	4–1–1 (1–1–0)
November 10	7:00 pm	St. Cloud State	#12	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 2–3	3,943	4–2–1 (1–2–0)
November 11	6:00 pm	St. Cloud State	#12	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 0–3	3,767	4–3–1 (1–3–0)
November 17	9:00 pm	at Colorado College	#16	Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado	SOCO CW	Rowe	W 3–1	3,407	5–3–1 (2–3–0)
November 18	8:00 pm	at Colorado College	#16	Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado		Rowe	W 4–0	3,410	6–3–1 (3–3–0)
November 24	7:00 pm	St. Lawrence*	#15	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 5–1	2,340	7–3–1
November 25	6:00 pm	St. Lawrence*	#15	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 4–0	2,245	8–3–1
December 1	7:00 pm	Lindenwood*	#14	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 3–1	2,733	9–3–1
December 2	6:00 pm	Lindenwood*	#14	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 5–1	2,982	10–3–1
December 8	7:00 pm	#4 Denver	#13	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 7–3	3,558	11–3–1 (4–3–0)
December 9	6:00 pm	#4 Denver	#13	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 5–6 OT	3,791	11–4–1 (4–4–0)
December 30	6:00 pm	Western Ontario*	#12	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan (Exhibition)		Laursen	W 6–2
January 5	8:10 pm	at Lindenwood*	#11	Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri		Rowe	W 3–2	1,261	12–4–1
January 6	3:10 pm	at Lindenwood*	#11	Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri		Rowe	W 6–1	907	13–4–1
January 12	7:00 pm	at Miami	#10	Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio		Rowe	W 4–1	2,403	14–4–1 (5–4–0)
January 13	7:00 pm	at Miami	#10	Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio		Rowe	L 3–4	2,387	14–5–1 (5–5–0)
January 19	7:00 pm	Minnesota Duluth	#11	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 3–6	3,566	14–6–1 (5–6–0)
January 20	6:00 pm	Minnesota Duluth	#11	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 5–2	3,648	15–6–1 (6–6–0)
January 26	7:00 pm	#16 Colorado College	#12	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 1–2 OT	3,611	15–7–1 (6–7–0)
January 27	6:00 pm	#16 Colorado College	#12	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 1–2 OT	3,710	15–8–1 (6–8–0)
February 2	9:00 pm	at #5 Denver	#15	Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado		Rowe	L 2–3	6,467	15–9–1 (6–9–0)
February 3	8:00 pm	at #5 Denver	#15	Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado		Rowe	W 7–2	6,202	16–9–1 (7–9–0)
February 9	7:00 pm	#19 Omaha	#14	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 6–1	3,311	17–9–1 (8–9–0)
February 10	6:00 pm	#19 Omaha	#14	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	L 2–3 OT	3,614	17–10–1 (8–10–0)
February 23	8:30 pm	at #15 St. Cloud State	#13	Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota	Fox 9+	Rowe	W 4–3	3,502	18–10–1 (9–10–0)
February 24	7:00 pm	at #15 St. Cloud State	#13	Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota	Fox 9+	Rowe	L 0–3	4,116	18–11–1 (9–11–0)
March 1	8:07 pm	at #3 North Dakota	#12	Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota	Midco, CBSSN	Rowe	L 3–5	11,833	18–12–1 (9–12–0)
March 2	7:07 pm	at #3 North Dakota	#12	Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota	Midco 2	Rowe	L 0–3	11,776	18–13–1 (9–13–0)
March 8	7:00 pm	Miami	#15	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 3–2	2,748	19–13–1 (10–13–0)
March 9	6:00 pm	Miami	#15	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 6–1	3,556	20–13–1 (11–13–0)
NCHC Tournament
March 15	8:37 pm	at #18 St. Cloud State*	#14	Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 1)	Fox 9+	Rowe	L 2–5	3,026	20–14–1
March 16	7:07 pm	at #18 St. Cloud State*	#14	Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 2)	Fox 9+	Rowe	W 6–1	2,495	21–14–1
March 17	7:07 pm	at #18 St. Cloud State*	#14	Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 3)	Fox 9+	Rowe	L 1–5	—	21–15–1
NCAA Tournament
March 29	5:00 pm	vs. #4 Michigan State*	#14	Centene Community Ice Center • Maryland Heights, Missouri (Midwest Regional Semifinal)	ESPNU	Rowe	L 4–5 OT	3,148	21–16–1
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source:

Rankings

Main article: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings

Poll	Week
	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27 (Final)
USCHO.com	12	12	9	10	11	12	16	15	14	13	12	-	11	10	11	12	15	14	13	13	12	15	14	15	14
USA Today	10	12	10	10	11	12	16	15	15	13	12	12	12^	10	11	12	14	14	13	12	11	14	12	15	13

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 11.
^USA Today did not release a poll in week 12.